Chain connector



Aug. 7, 1923.

, 11,464,195 J. H. BESAW CHAIN CONNECTOR Filed March 24, 1922 ummpgug full i A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug, :7, i923,

mars rarss lAMdQS FHQE,

PAT

CHAIN conirnoron.

Application filed March 24, 1922. Serial No. 546,459.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, J mmy l-l. BESAW,

a citizen of the United States of America,

' and a resident of Huntington, in the county of Hampshire and State of lv'lassachusetts,

have invented a new and useful Chain Connector, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to improvements in devices designed for connecting the ends of chains, and consists essentially of two plates pivotally connected side by side and provided with two pairs of recessed jaws, all of peculiar construction, and as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which can readily be pivotally connected with one end of a chain, and is capable of having securely attached thereto the other end of such chain. such device being simple in construction and operation, strong and durable, and so safe and reliable as to be free from liability of becoming accidentally disengaged from the chain.

This connector is especially adapted for use with anti-skid chains for motor-driven vehicle tires.

@ther objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects andsecure the ad vantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain connector which embodies a practical form of my invention, such connector being open; Fig. 2, a side elevation of said connector, showing the same closed, and having in engagement with its upper terminal a chain link, and, Fig. 3, an elevation of the parts and members shown in 2 as viewed from the right-hand side or edge thereof.-

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

The connector comprises flat plates 1-1, each of which is provided at one end with a jaw 2, and intermediate of such end and the opposite end with a generally similar jaw 3. The jaws 2 and 3 on each plate 1 form a slot 4-, and such jaw 3 with that portion of said plate which constitutes a heel. 5 form a slot 6. The inner end of each slot 4 is concave as shown'at '2', and so also is the inner end of each slot 6.

Each slot 4, futhermore, has upwardly-and downwardly-extending extensions which form two notches or recesses 8, and there are similar notches or recesses formed by upwardlyand downwardly-extending portions of each slot 6. The recesses 8 are located at the inner terminals of the slots 1 and 6, at the ends of the concavities 7.

The plates 1 are designed to be placed side by side, with their heels 5 both at one end and their jaws 2 both at the other end, and said heels are perforated to receive a pivot 9, which latter may consist of a member having a head at one end and the other end upset, or of any other suitable memher or members.

A chain member, such as a clevis 10, is

the chain opposite to that to which the clevis 10 is attached. or which consists of such clevis, is represented at 12. The lower, free terminal portion ofthe link 12 is receivable in the slots 4: and the notches 7 which form parts of extensions of such slots, and is also receivable in the slots 6 and the notches 7 which form parts or extensions of said last-named slots.

The edges of the slots 4 and 6, outside of the notches 8 and the concayities 7, are

in the form of arcs struck from the axial center of the pivot 9. The construction and arrangement of the plates 1, with their arcuate slots and the other concavities therein, are such that, when said plates are brought in complete parallelism, the free ends of the jaws 2 and 3 on either of said plates are in exact alignment with the unbroken longitudinal edge of the other of said plates, the two slots 4 are alongside of the plates, as are also the two slots 6, and the two upper concavities 7 and the two lower concavities '7 form central openings 1313 completed above and below by the four pairs of notches 8, which notches in each pair are in alignment, all substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The lower, free terminal of the link 1.2 is receivable in either of the openings 13, and in any; of the aligning notches 8. Due to the fact that the notches 8 in each terminalof the link12 is introducedinto one orthe other of the slots 4:, or into the space between the open ends of such slots, and said plates are rocked inwardly on'said pivot to cause-them to assume the closed position, substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the jaws 2 and 3 on one plate passing by the corresponding jaws on the other plate, into the last-named position. The lower terminal of thejlink 12 is now partly in the uppermost, aligning notches 8 and partly in theupper opening 13, assuming that such link be under tension. Vhen in this position'the link12 locksrthe plates 1 in their closed position, by reason of the existing engagement between said-link and the edges of the upper notches 8, so that it is practically impossible to rock said plates into open position so as to disengageand release said link. In the event of back pressure or ressure downwardl accordin to on the link 12, the free'end of said link is thrust into the lower notchesS which open int-othe slots 4, and as securely locks the plates in closed position as'was the case when said link was in the notches 8 above. On account of the concavities 7 at the inner ends of the slots 4, the interengaging end of the link 12 is invariably guided into the notches 8, either those aboveor those below said concavities, accordingly as said link be drawn outwardly (upwardly) or forced inwardly (downwardly) Upon opening the plates 1 wide enough to enable the lower end of the link 12 to pass between the jaws 8, said end can be locked in place-by said jaws when said plates are closed, the link end then being received either in the notches 8 at the top of the slots 6 or in the notches 8 at the bottom of such slots, and being guided to such notches beneath the jaws?) in the'first instance, or

terminal, said able said link to clear the jaws 2 or 3, :as

the case may be.

The plates 1 may be provided in their outer sides with indentations, as 14: forthe insertion of the thumb and finger nails to facilitate opening the devlce A More or less change in the shape, size,

construction, and arrangement "of some or all of the-parts of this connector, in addition to those of which particular mention has beenhereinbefore made, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention-or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

lVhat I-claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a chain connector, plates arranged side by side and pivotally connected at one plates having registering jaws on OPPOSltQlY-(liSPOSGCl edges, with registering slots between said jaws, the upper and under edges of which slots are in the form approximately of arcs struck fronr the axial center of the pivot, and the inner ends of which slots form upper and under and under notches separate from the concave portions, saidslots, concave portions,

and notches being adapted to receive a link.

JERRY H. BESAW. Witnesses V i F. A. CUTTER, R. E. ALLBEE. 

